Fluid dispenser

ABSTRACT

A fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid in liquid or powder form, the fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir ( 30 ) of variable volume, said reservoir defining at least one movable wall ( 31, 32 ) that can be moved to vary the volume of the reservoir, the dispenser further comprising a dispensing orifice ( 311 ) in communication with the reservoir so that fluid from the reservoir can be delivered through the dispensing orifice when the volume of the reservoir is reduced;  
     said fluid dispenser being characterized in that it further comprises actuating means ( 1, 2 ) making it possible, in a first stage, to increase the volume of the reservoir by drawing air into the reservoir, and then, in a second stage, to reduce the volume of the reservoir by delivering air and fluid through the dispensing orifice.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) ofpending U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/442,898, filedJan. 28, 2003, and priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) of French patentapplications No. FR-02.13319, filed Oct. 24, 2002 and FR-02.14753, filedNov. 25, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser for dispensingfluid in liquid or powder form, the fluid dispenser comprising a fluidreservoir of variable volume and a dispensing orifice in communicationwith the reservoir so that fluid from the reservoir can be deliveredthrough the dispensing orifice when the volume of the reservoir isreduced. The reservoir preferably has at least one wall that isdeformable or movable to cause the internal volume of the reservoir tovary. Thus, by acting on said wall, it is possible to reduce the volumeof the reservoir and thus to deliver fluid through the dispensingorifice. For example, such dispensers can be used in the fields ofperfumes, cosmetics, or indeed pharmaceuticals.

[0003] For example, Document FR 2 791 645 describes a dispenser made upof two deformable sheets that are sealed together over their peripheriesso as to define an internal volume defining a fluid reservoir.Advantageously, a dispensing part is fixed by sealing between the twosheets. The dispensing part advantageously defines a dispensing orificeand also serves as a support part for an element made of a porousmaterial suitable for being soaked or impregnated with fluid in liquidor powder form. In addition, the reservoir made up of the two flexiblesheets contains a spring making it possible to return the two sheets toa configuration defining the maximum volume of the reservoir. Thatspring thus serves as a return spring which makes it possible to returnthe reservoir to its initial rest position in which it defines a maximumvolume after each occasion on which the dispenser is actuated. The fluidreservoir contains a small quantity of the fluid and a larger quantityof gas, e.g. air. Thus, each time the dispenser is actuated, a mixtureof air and of fluid is delivered through the dispensing orifice, andadvantageously through the piece of porous material impregnated orsoaked with fluid. In that document, provision is also made to close offthe dispensing orifice by means of a removable closure member when thereservoir substantially contains fluid only, and when the spring iscompressed to a state close to its maximum compressed state. Thus, solong as the removable closure member is in place, the reservoir ismaintained at a minimum volume, and the fluid that it contains issubstantially not in contact with air. It is only when the removableclosure member is removed that the spring can relax so that the volumeof the reservoir increases by means of air being drawn in through thedispensing orifice. Then, the dispenser is actuated by pressing on theflexible sheets that constitute the deformable actuating walls. Oncepressure ceases to be applied to the sheets, the spring contained in thereservoir returns said reservoir to its initial maximum volume state.

[0004] The drawback with that prior art dispenser lies in the fact thatthe spring situated inside the reservoir acts on the actuating walls,i.e. on the flexible walls, even when the removable closure member is inplace. This results in the flexible sheets being deformed locally, whichis not very attractive in appearance. In addition, when the spring ismade of metal, it constitutes a large mass of metal inside thereservoir, which can be harmful to certain fluids. Furthermore, when thespring is made of a plastics material, it tends to lose its stiffnessbecause of the tendency of plastics to creep over time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An object of the present invention is to remedy theabove-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining a novel type ofdispenser which does not need any permanent spring means to return thefluid reservoir to its rest position which defines the maximum volume.The dispenser can thus remain at rest with a reservoir volume that ismuch smaller than its maximum volume prior to dispensing.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to define a dispenser whosereservoir can increase in volume immediately before dispensing.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to make it possible todecrease the volume of the reservoir without squeezing the movable walldirectly by hand.

[0008] Yet another object of the invention is to obtain a fulldispensing cycle by means of a single continuous action.

[0009] To these ends, the present invention provides that the dispenserfurther comprises actuating means making it possible, in a first stage,to increase the volume of the reservoir by drawing air into thereservoir, and then, in a second stage, to reduce the volume of thereservoir by delivering air and fluid through the dispensing orifice.Advantageously, the actuating means comprise a press zone and a backingzone, the press zone being moved towards the backing zone generating anincrease and then a decrease in the volume of the reservoir. Thus, bybringing the press zone closer to the backing zone, e.g. by using thethumb reacting against the other fingers of the same hand, the dispenserundergoes a cycle which is not apparent to the user and in which thevolume of the reservoir is firstly increased to draw air into it, andthen the mixture of air and of fluid is delivered so that fluid isdispensed, advantageously in the form of a spray.

[0010] In an embodiment, the actuating means comprise a front flexibleplate and a back flexible plate between which the reservoir is situated,the front plate being secured to the back plate at respective oppositeedges so that bringing the opposite edges of the front plate closertogether by said front plate flexing leaves the opposite edges of theback plate static relative to each other and leaves the back platestress-free in said first stage, and then, in said second stage, bringsthe opposite edges of the back plate closer together by said back plateflexing with curvature going in the same direction as the curvature ofthe front plate, so that the two plates squeeze the reservoir betweenthem. The flexibility of the plates serves as return spring means makingit possible to return the dispenser to its initial rest state. It is thetwo plates being flexibly deformed in asynchronous and staggered mannerthat makes it possible to increase the volume of the reservoir in afirst stage, and then to reduce it in a second stage during which bothplates are curved in the same direction, thereby bringing the back platecloser to the front plate and thus reducing the volume between them andtherefore the volume of the reservoir which is situated between them. Inthis embodiment, the front plate defines the press zone and the backingzone.

[0011] In a practical aspect, at least one edge of the front plate isprovided with a flap defining a groove into which the corresponding edgeof the back plate is engaged loosely. Advantageously, the groove formsan abutment end-wall which, at rest, is separated from the respectiveedge of the back plate, so that the edge of the back plate comes intoabutment against the abutment end-wall of the groove only after theedges of the front plate have come closer together to a certain extent.A single groove suffices when the front plate and the back plate aremade integrally. However, when the two plates are separate, a groovemust be provided at each of the opposite edges of the front plate.

[0012] In another aspect, the front plate has a curvature at rest thattends to become accentuated as the press zone moves towards the backingzone. The same may apply for the back plate with a curvature at restthat is less pronounced. Thus, it is guaranteed that the two plates bendwith a curvature going in the same direction.

[0013] According to another characteristic of the invention, the frontplate is provided with an opening at which the dispensing orifice of thereservoir is positioned. Advantageously, a pouch defining the reservoir,its movable wall and the dispensing orifice is disposed in fixed mannerbetween the front plate and the back plate with the dispensing orificepositioned at the opening. In a variant, the front plate and the backplate form the reservoir.

[0014] In another embodiment, the reservoir contains a piece of porousmaterial suitable for being impregnated with fluid, said piece beingplaced in contact with the dispensing orifice.

[0015] In another aspect, a removable closure member is initiallypositioned over the dispensing orifice so as to maintain the reservoirat a minimum volume, in which it substantially contains fluid only, theback plate then being pressed against the front plate.

[0016] In the same spirit, the present invention also provides a fluiddispenser for dispensing fluid in liquid or powder form, the fluiddispenser comprising a fluid reservoir of variable volume, saidreservoir defining at least one movable wall that can be moved along afirst axis to vary the volume of the reservoir, the dispenser furthercomprising a dispensing orifice in communication with the reservoir sothat the fluid from the reservoir can be delivered through thedispensing orifice when the volume of the reservoir is reduced, saidfluid dispenser being characterized in that it further comprisesactuating means defining a press zone and a backing zone, it beingpossible to move the press zone towards the backing zone along a secondaxis transverse to the first axis. Advantageously, the press zone beingmoved towards the backing zone generates an increase in the volume ofthe reservoir. In which case, the actuating means comprise a frontflexible plate and a back flexible plate between which the reservoir issituated, the front plate being secured to the back plate at respectiveopposite edges so that bringing the opposite edges of the front platecloser together by said front plate flexing leaves the opposite edges ofthe back plate static relative to each other, and leaves the back platestress-free.

[0017] In a first aspect of the invention, the front plate defines thepress zone and the backing zone at its opposite edges.

[0018] In another aspect which may be combined with the precedingaspect, the press zone moving towards the backing zone generates areduction in the volume of the reservoir. In which case, the actuatingmeans comprise a front flexible plate and a back flexible plate betweenwhich the reservoir is situated, the front plate being secured to theback plate at respective opposite edges so that bringing the oppositeedges of the front plate closer together by said front plate flexingbrings the opposite edges of the back plate closer together by said backplate flexing with curvature going in the same direction as thecurvature of the front plate, so that the two plates squeeze thereservoir between them.

[0019] The general inventive concept of the present invention lies innot acting directly on the movable wall of the reservoir so that it ispossible to move it in one direction and/or in the opposite direction,i.e. to increase and/or to decrease the reservoir volume. Naturally, themost advantageous solution lies in increasing and then consecutivelydecreasing the volume of the reservoir. This general inventive conceptresults firstly in actuation that makes it possible to increase and thenconsecutively to decrease the volume of the reservoir, and secondly inactuation whose compression component is exerted between a press zoneand a backing zone along an axis that is perpendicular to the axis alongwhich the movable wall of the reservoir is moved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention is described more fully below with reference to theaccompanying drawings which give embodiments of the invention by way ofnon-limiting example.

[0021] In the figures:

[0022]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a fluid dispenser in a firstembodiment of the invention;

[0023]FIG. 2a is a vertical section view through the dispenser of FIG.1, in the assembled state, in the rest position, after the removableclosure member has been removed;

[0024]FIG. 2b is a view similar to the view of FIG. 2a, during theinitial actuating stage;

[0025]FIG. 2c is a view similar to the view in FIGS. 2a and 2 b showingthe dispenser in the final actuating stage;

[0026]FIG. 3 is a vertical section view through a dispenser in a variantembodiment; and

[0027]FIG. 4 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 3, for anothervariant embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The embodiments used to illustrate the present invention andshown in the figures implement actuating principles which can becombined or implemented individually, but which are mutually related bya common general concept which lies in the fact that the pressing neededto move a wall of a fluid reservoir is not applied to said wall. Inother words, the user does not act directly on the wall of the reservoirin order to move it, instead the user applies a force between a presszone and a backing zone that are situated outside the movable wall, soas to generate either an increase in the volume of the reservoir, or adecrease in the volume of the reservoir, or indeed a consecutivecombination of an increase followed by a decrease, or of a decreasefollowed by an increase. These actuating principles are applicable moreparticularly but not exclusively to reservoirs forming or including amovable wall, i.e. a wall that can move, e.g. in a reservoir body, or awall that is deformable relative to the remainder of the reservoir. Forexample, the movable wall may be in the form of a follower or scraperpiston that is mounted to slide in leaktight manner in a drum-shapedreservoir. The deformable wall may, for example, be a flexible wall of apouch, as it is in the embodiments shown in the figures.

[0029] Reference is made firstly to FIGS. 1, 2a, 2 b, and 2 c to explainthe first embodiment of the invention. The fluid dispenser is adispenser for dispensing a fluid that may be in liquid form or in powderform, and it comprises a fluid pouch given overall numerical reference3, and handle and actuating means, formed in this example by two plates,namely a front plate 1 and a back plate 2. In this example, theactuating means also serve as covering means and as resilient returnmeans for the fluid pouch 3.

[0030] The fluid pouch 3 is made up of two sheets 31 and 32 which areadvantageously made of a material that is easily deformable. Naturally,it is possible to imagine that the two sheets 31, 32 may be connectedtogether along one edge so as to form a single folded-over sheet. Eachsheet defines a peripheral margin zone 310, 320. These peripheral zones310, 320 are designed to be joined together in leaktight manner, e.g. bya heat-sealing technique. A volume is thus defined between the twosheets 31 and 32 that serves as a fluid reservoir 30, as can be seen inFIGS. 2a, 2 b, and 2 c. One of the sheets, namely sheet 31 in thisexample, is provided with a dispensing hole 311. Thus, the fluid storedin the reservoir 30 of the pouch 3 can exit from the reservoir throughthe dispensing orifice 311. Since the sheets 31 and 32 are made of amaterial that is easily deformable, each of them forms a deformable ormovable actuating wall on which it is possible to act to cause theinside volume of the reservoir 30 to vary. By moving them apart, thevolume of the reservoir is increased, as shown in FIG. 2b, and by movingthem together, the volume of the reservoir is decreased, as shown inFIGS. 2a and 2 c. If the sheet 31 is held in fixed manner, sheet 32 isthen considered to be the actuating wall of the pouch 3, and vice versa.Advantageously, the reservoir 30 contains a piece of porous material 33which is advantageously fixed to the sheet 31 at the dispensing orifice311. It is even advantageous for the piece 33 to be in direct contactwith the orifice 311. The function of the piece 33 is to becomeimpregnated or soaked with the fluid, in liquid or powder form, storedin the reservoir 30 of the pouch 3. The reservoir 30 may contain fluidonly, but preferably it contains both the fluid and a gas, e.g. air.Thus, particularly when the pouch contains a piece of porous material33, the air in the reservoir 30 can be driven out through the piece ofporous material 33 filled with fluid when the volume of the reservoir isdecreased. This results in a mixture of the fluid and of air beingsprayed out through the dispensing orifice 311. By providing springmeans for moving the sheet 32 away from the sheet 31, so as to define amaximum reservoir volume, it is possible to use the pouch 3 as anindependent fluid dispenser. This applies, for example, to theabove-mentioned prior art document FR 2 791 645. However, in the presentinvention, it is preferable for the pouch 3 not to have spring meansinternal or specific to it. In other words, it is preferable for thesheets 31 and 32 of the sheet to be freely deformable, and not urgedapart or together by spring means of the pouch, even incorporated in orintrinsic to the sheets 31 and 32. For example, it is not necessary forone or both of the two sheets to have shape memory. However, that is notexcluded either.

[0031] Naturally, it is possible to imagine other embodiments for thepouch 3. The essential point lies in the fact that the pouch 3 defines areservoir having at least one movable or deformable actuating wall so asto be able to cause the internal volume of the reservoir to vary so asto be able to deliver the fluid that it contains, optionally as amixture with a gas, through a dispensing orifice. For example, thedispensing orifice may be formed in a separate part mounted on a sheetor between the two sheets. It is also possible to imagine using otherelements to form the casing of the reservoir. For example, it ispossible to imagine a support plate to which a deformable or movablemembrane is fixed in leaktight manner.

[0032] The actuating means which, in this example, are in the form oftwo plates 1 and 2, serve firstly for varying the internal volume of thereservoir 30 by moving or deforming one sheet relative to the other. Theactuating means can also act on the volume of the reservoir so as toincrease it and/or so as to decrease it. The actuating means comprise apress zone and a backing zone via which zones the dispenser can begrasped, e.g. with one hand by positioning the thumb on the backing zoneand one or more other fingers of the same hand on the press zone or viceversa. By pressing in this way with the hand on the press zone so as tomove it towards the backing zone, the volume of the reservoir is causedto vary, either so that it increases or so that it decreases, or indeedso that it is subjected to a consecutive combination of an increasefollowed by a decrease, or of a decrease followed by an increase.

[0033] In the embodiment shown in the figures, and in particular inFIGS. 1, 2a, 2 b, and 2 c, the front plate 1 forms the press zone andthe backing zone, as explained below. The front plate 1 comprises afront panel 10 defining two opposite side edges 13, a top edge 11, and abottom edge 12 opposite the top edge. The panel 10 is further providedwith a through opening 14 which is disposed substantially centrally inthis example. In this example, the top edge 11 is formed by alongitudinal edge that extends substantially perpendicularly to theplane of the panel 10. The edge is then extended by a flap 111 whichextends parallel to the plane of the panel 10. The same applies for thebottom edge 12 which is also formed by an edge provided with a flap 121.The two flaps 111 and 121 point towards each other. Thus, two grooves112 and 122 are formed that are open facing each other. The groove 112is formed between the flap 111 and the panel 10, and it has an end-wallformed by the edge 11 which forms the top edge of the plate 1. Insymmetrical manner, the groove 122 is formed between the flap 121 andthe panel 10, and it has an end-wall formed by the edge that defines thebottom edge of the plate 1. In this example, the flaps 111 and 121extend over the entire width of the plate. However, it is possible toimagine embodiments in which the grooves extend over only a fraction ofthe width of the plate 1, so that the top edge 11 and the bottom edge 12occupy only portions of the edges that connect the panel 10 to the flaps111 and 121. Other portions of the top edge 11 and of the bottom edge 12can then have the same shape as the side edges 13.

[0034] In the invention, the sheet 1 has a certain amount of rigidity,while also having a certain amount of elastic deformability. The sheetcan thus be bent or curved elastically by exerting stress between thetop edge 11 and the bottom edge 12. It is thus possible to move the edge11 towards the edge 12 by elastically deforming the panel 10 by curvingit. It is almost impossible to deform the plate 1 in the otherdirection, especially when the flaps 111 extend over the entire width ofthe plate 1. The flaps 111 and 122 reinforce the rigidity of the plate 1at the edges 11 and 12. In contrast, since the side edges 13 are notreinforced, it is possible to deform them in flexing or buckling. It isadvantageous for the plate 1 to have elastic shape memory so that italways returns to its rest position. As shown in FIG. 1, the panel 10 isshown as being exactly plane. However, it is preferable for the panel 10to have initial rounding or curvature, as shown in FIG. 2a. The initialcurvature guarantees that the panel 10 is always deformed in the samedirection, namely leftwards in FIG. 2a.

[0035] The plate 1 may be made of any material, such as, for example,plastic, metal, card, or a laminate of metal, of plastic, and/or ofcard.

[0036] The back plate 2 may be made of the same material as the frontplate 1. It may also have the same rigidity and deformabilitycharacteristics as the front plate 1. The back plate 2 is in the form ofa panel 20 which is substantially plane or slightly curved. The backpanel 20 has two side edges 23, a top edge 21 and an opposite bottomedge 22. If the panel 20 is made with a slight curvature, said curvatureextends over the height of the panel 20, so that the side edges 23 arecurved, while the edges 21 and 22 remain rectilinear. It is advantageousfor the curvature of the panel 20 to be in the same direction as theinitial curvature of the front panel 10 of the plate 1. The back panel20 is uninterrupted in this example, but it may also be cut out locallyif necessary. Like the panel 10, the panel 20 is entirely smooth in thisexample, but it is also possible to imagine panels having shapedsections for functional reasons or for reasons of appearance.

[0037] The back plate 2 is mounted on the front plate 1 by inserting thebottom edge 22 in the bottom groove 122, and by inserting the top edge21 in the top groove 112. The height of the back plate 2 as defined bythe height of the side edges 23 is advantageously greater than thedistance between the end-wall of the bottom groove 122 and the freebottom edge of the flap 111. Thus, the back plate 2 is secured to thefront plate 1 and cannot become disengaged from the grooves 112 and 122,since the top edge 21 of the plate 2 extends beyond the bottom free edgeof the flap 111, as can be seen in FIG. 2a, even in the rest position.For example, it is possible to engage the plate 2 in the plate 1 bylateral sliding. Once the plate 2 is engaged in the grooves and disposedbehind the plate 1, a single subassembly is obtained in which the backplate 2 can nevertheless move by axial sliding and with verticalclearance. It is advantageous for the top edge 21 of the plate 2 not tobe in abutment against the end-wall of the groove 112, but rather forthere to remain a gap that defines the vertical clearance for the plate2 behind the plate 1 in the rest position. The bottom edge 22 of theplate 2 may even be fixed in the bottom groove 122. In which case, theplate 2 can no longer slide behind the plate 1, but the top edge 21 ofthe plate 2 remains free, and the entire clearance is defined betweenthe edge 21 and the end-wall of the groove 112.

[0038] Since the front plate 1 and the back plate 2 are elasticallydeformable to some extent, it is possible to deform the front plate 1 byholding it between its press zone defined by the top edge 11 and itsbacking zone defined by the bottom edge 12, as can be seen in FIG. 2b.Bringing the edge 11 towards the edge 12 firstly deforms the front panel10 of the plate 1 by accentuating its curvature. During this time, theback plate 2 remains stress-free. The front plate 1 continues to becurved, and the back plate remains stress-free until the top edge 21 ofthe back plate 2 comes into abutment against the end-wall of the groove112, as shown in FIG. 2b. Since the front plate has accentuated itscurvature while the back plate has remained static, the front plate 1has moved away from the back plate 2 at the opening 14. It can even beobserved that the volume defined between the two plates has increasedbetween FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b.

[0039] By continuing to press on the zone 11 in reaction relative to thezone 12, starting from the position shown in FIG. 2b, the back plate 2starts curving, advantageously in the same direction as the front plate1. This can be seen in FIG. 2c. The two plates being deformedsimultaneously results in the back plate 2 being brought closer to thefront plate 1 at the opening 14. It can even be observed that the volumedefined between the two plates has decreased between the position inFIG. 2b and the position in FIG. 2c.

[0040] Thus, by bringing the press zone 1 closer to the backing zone 12,starting from the rest position shown in FIG. 2a, firstly the two platesare moved apart at the opening 14 to reach the position in FIG. 2b.Then, by continuing to bring the press zone towards the backing zone,the two plates come closer together again at the opening 14. It shouldbe noted that the two plates moving apart and then back together isgenerated by a single movement whereby the edges 11 and 12 are broughtcloser together. In addition, it should also be noted that the zones 11and 12 are brought together along an axis which is transverse orperpendicular to the axis along which the walls 1 and 2 move at theopening 14. Thus, a force exerted along one axis generates movementalong a transverse or perpendicular axis. And this movement generates avariation in distance and in volume between the two plates.

[0041] Naturally, it is possible to imagine a variant embodiment, asshown in FIG. 3, in which the back plate 2 is made integrally with thefront plate 1. The bottom edge 22′ of FIG. 3 may, for example, beconnected integrally to the flap 121′.

[0042] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2a, 2 b, 2 c, and 3, thepouch 3 containing the fluid in liquid or in powder form is disposedbetween the two plates 1 and 2. The front sheet 1 provided with thedispensing orifice 311 may, for example, be fixed to the front panel 1around the opening 14. In addition, the back sheet 32 of the pouch 3 maybe fixed to the back plate 2 substantially at the dispensing orifice311. It is preferable for the remainder of the pouch 3 not to beconnected to the plates 1 and 2. Advantageously, the dispenser may beprovided with a removable closure member 4 which is received in theopening 14 and which closes off the dispensing orifice 311 in leaktightmanner. Prior to use, the removable closure member 4 can be removed soas to unmask the dispensing orifice, as shown in FIGS. 2a and 3.Provision may even be made for the reservoir 30 to contain fluid only,until the removable closure member 4 has been removed. Thus, thereservoir is maintained at a minimum volume so that the back plate 2 ispressed against the front plate 1. After the removable closure member 4has been removed, air can penetrate into the reservoir 30 through thedispensing orifice 311 and through the piece of porous material 33. Thevolume of the reservoir 30 can then increase slightly because the backplate can relax to return to its initial rest position shown in FIG. 2aor FIG. 3. However, it is also possible to make provision for thedispenser to be in the form shown in FIGS. 2a and 3 when the removableclosure member 4 is in place. In any event, after the closure member 4is removed, the dispenser is in the form shown in FIG. 2a or FIG. 3. Bypressing on the press zone 11 and on the backing zone 12, as shown inFIG. 2b, initially the front plate 1 is deformed while leaving the backplate 2 stress-free, so that the front plate 1 moves away from the backplate 2 at the opening 14 at which the dispensing orifice 1 is situated.Since the front sheet 31 is connected to the front plate 1 and the backsheet 32 is connected to the back sheet 2, the front sheet 31 is pulledaway from the back sheet 32, thereby generating an increase in thevolume of the reservoir 30. This can be seen in FIG. 2b. By continuingto press, the back panel 2 is also deformed so that it moves closer tothe front panel 1 at the opening 14. This brings the back sheet 2 closerto the front sheet 31, thereby reducing the internal volume of thereservoir 30. During the stage going from FIG. 2a to FIG. 2b, air isdrawn into the reservoir 30 through the dispensing orifice 311, andthen, during the stage going from FIG. 2b to FIG. 2c, the air sucked inpreviously is delivered through the dispensing orifice 311 as a mixturewith some of the fluid contained initially in the reservoir 30. Thus, ina single actuating action, the reservoir is firstly filled with air, andthen the air is expelled as a mixture with fluid from the reservoir.This takes place without pressing directly on the actuating wall(s) ofthe reservoir. On the contrary, a press zone and a backing zone are usedthat are remote from the actuating walls of the reservoir, which makesit possible, during a single common actuating action, to increase or todecrease the volume of the reservoir, or both to increase and todecrease the volume of the reservoir.

[0043] The invention thus should not be considered merely as lying inthe capacity to increase and then to decrease the volume of thereservoir by acting on press and backing zones that are connectedindirectly to the actuating walls of the reservoir. The invention mayalso be seen to lie in the possibility of increasing the volume of thereservoir by acting on press and backing zones along an axis that istransverse or perpendicular to the movement of the actuating walls ofthe reservoir. This corresponds merely to the initial stage going fromFIG. 2a to FIG. 2b.

[0044] The invention may also be seen to lie in the possibility ofdecreasing the volume of the reservoir by acting on press and backingzones along an axis that is transverse or perpendicular to the movementof the actuating wall(s) of the reservoir. This corresponds to the stagegoing from FIG. 2b to FIG. 2c.

[0045] Naturally, the combination of these stages, namely a stage inwhich the volume of the reservoir is increased followed by a stage inwhich the volume of the reservoir is decreased is preferred, becausethis makes it possible, in a single common action, to generate twoopposing and complementary actuating stages.

[0046] In a variant embodiment shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to omitthe pouch 3 containing the fluid, and to use the front and back plates1′ and 2′ directly to form the fluid reservoir 30. The top edge 21′ ofthe back plate 2′ may be fixed indirectly to the groove 112′, or, in avariant, it is possible to provide a flexible link so that the dispensercan also perform the initial stage of increasing the reservoir goingfrom FIG. 2a to FIG. 2b.

[0047] In all of the embodiments, in which the reservoir increases involume, it is necessary for the back plate 2, 2′ to have rigidity and/orelasticity sufficient to enable the front plate to bend without the backplate bending, so as to enable the volume of the reservoir to beincreased.

[0048] If the back plate is too flexible, it is entrained by the frontplate without generating an increase in the volume of the reservoir. Therigidities and/or elasticities of the two plates may be different: forexample, the front plate may be more flexible than the back plate.

[0049] As soon as the reservoir has reached its maximum volume, the backplate can start bending with front plate.

[0050] By means of the invention, it is possible to obtain a preferablytwo-phase fluid dispenser that does not have a permanent return spring,and that, when actuated, makes it possible for the volume of thereservoir to be consecutively increased and then decreased.

1/ A fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid in liquid or powder form, thefluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir (30) of variable volume,said reservoir defining at least one movable wall (31, 32; 1′, 2′) thatcan be moved to vary the volume of the reservoir, the dispenser furthercomprising a dispensing orifice (311; 15′) in communication with thereservoir so that fluid from the reservoir can be delivered through thedispensing orifice when the volume of the reservoir is reduced; saidfluid dispenser being characterized in that it further comprisesactuating means (1, 2; 1′, 2′) making it possible, in a first stage, toincrease the volume of the reservoir by drawing air into the reservoir,and then, in a second stage, to reduce the volume of the reservoir bydelivering air and fluid through the dispensing orifice. 2/ A dispenseraccording to claim 1, in which the actuating means comprise a press zone(11) and a backing zone (12), the press zone being moved towards thebacking zone generating an increase and then a decrease in the volume ofthe reservoir. 3/ A dispenser according to claim 1, in which theactuating means comprise a front flexible plate (1; 1′) and a backflexible plate (2, 2′) between which the reservoir is situated, thefront plate being secured to the back plate at respective opposite edges(11, 12) so that bringing the opposite edges (11, 12) of the front plate(1) closer together by said front plate flexing leaves the oppositeedges (21, 22) of the back plate (2) static relative to each other andleaves the back plate (2) stress-free in said first stage, and then, insaid second stage, brings the opposite edges (21, 22) of the back platecloser together by said back plate flexing with curvature going in thesame direction as the curvature of the front plate, so that the twoplates squeeze the reservoir between them. 4/ A dispenser according toclaim 3, in which the front plate (1) defines the press zone (11) andthe backing zone (12). 5/ A dispenser according to claim 3, in which atleast one edge (11) of the front plate (1) is provided with a flap (111)defining a groove (112) into which the corresponding edge (21) of theback plate (2) is engaged loosely. 6/ A dispenser according to claim 5,in which the groove (111) forms an abutment end-wall (11) which, atrest, is separated from the respective edge (21) of the back plate (2),so that the edge (21) of the back plate (2) comes into abutment againstthe abutment end-wall (11) of the groove (111) only after the edges (11,12) of the front plate (1) have come closer together to a certainextent. 7/ A dispenser according to claim 3, in which the front plate(1) has a curvature at rest that tends to become accentuated as thepress zone (11) moves towards the backing zone (12). 8/ A dispenseraccording to claim 3, in which the front plate (1) is provided with anopening (14) at which the dispensing orifice of the reservoir (311) ispositioned. 9/ A dispenser according to claim 8, in which a pouch (3)defining the reservoir (30), its movable wall (31, 32) and thedispensing orifice (311) is disposed in fixed manner between the frontplate (1) and the back plate (2) with the dispensing orifice (311)positioned at the opening (14). 10/ A dispenser according to claim 3, inwhich the front plate (1′) and the back plate (2′) form the reservoir(30). 11/ A dispenser according to claim 1, in which the reservoir (30)contains a piece of porous material (33) suitable for being impregnatedwith fluid, said piece (33) being placed in contact with the dispensingorifice (311; 15′). 12/ A dispenser according to claim 1, in which thefront plate (1) and the back plate (2) are connected togetherintegrally. 13/ A dispenser according to claim 1, in which a removableclosure member (4) is initially positioned over the dispensing orifice(311; 15′) so as to maintain the reservoir at a minimum volume, in whichit substantially contains fluid only, the back plate then being pressedagainst the front plate. 14/ A fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid inliquid or powder form, the fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir(30) of variable volume, said reservoir defining at least one movablewall (31, 32; 1′, 2′) that can be moved along a first axis to vary thevolume of the reservoir, the dispenser further comprising a dispensingorifice (311; 15′) in communication with the reservoir so that the fluidfrom the reservoir can be delivered through the dispensing orifice whenthe volume of the reservoir is reduced, said fluid dispenser beingcharacterized in that it further comprises actuating means (1, 2; 1′,2′) defining a press zone (11) and a backing zone (12), it beingpossible to move the press zone (11) towards the backing zone (12) alonga second axis transverse to the first axis. 15/ A dispenser according toclaim 14, in which the press zone (11) being moved towards the backingzone (12) generates an increase in the volume of the reservoir. 16/ Adispenser according to claim 14, in which the actuating means comprise afront flexible plate (1, 1′) and a back flexible plate (2; 2′) betweenwhich the reservoir (30) is situated, the front plate being secured tothe back plate at respective opposite edges (11, 12) so that bringingthe opposite edges (11, 12) of the front plate closer together by saidfront plate flexing leaves the opposite edges (21, 22) of the back plate(2) static relative to each other, and leaves the back platestress-free. 17/ A dispenser according to claim 14, in which the presszone (11) moving towards the backing zone (12) generates a reduction inthe volume of the reservoir. 18/ A dispenser according to claim 17, inwhich the actuating means comprise a front flexible plate (1; 1′) and aback flexible plate (2, 2′) between which the reservoir is situated, thefront plate being secured to the back plate at respective opposite edges(11, 12) so that bringing the opposite edges (11, 12) of the front platecloser together by said front plate flexing brings the opposite edges(21, 22) of the back plate closer together by said back plate flexingwith curvature going in the same direction as the curvature of the frontplate, so that the two plates squeeze the reservoir between them. 19/ Adispenser according to claim 16, in which the front plate (1) definesthe press zone (11) and the backing zone (12) at its opposite edges. 20/A dispenser according to claim 1, in which the back plate has rigiditysufficient to enable the front plate to bend without the back platebending, so as thereby to increase the volume of the reservoir. 21/ Adispenser according to claim 14, in which the back plate has rigiditysufficient to enable the front plate to bend without the back platebending, so as thereby to increase the volume of the reservoir.